Staff Technology Skills: Which of these skills have a direct impact on student outcomes? Thoughts/Questions
Answering this question depends on how one interprets directimpactand how student outcomes are defined.
It seems reasonable to conclude that if student outcomes are improved by use of technology, staff training in those technology skills would impact student outcomes, though perhaps not directly.
Direct Impact
Proving a direct impact between specific staff technology skills and student outcomes is difficult.
A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) found that teacher technology preparation "greatly facilitates" a number of teaching methods and strategies (Recent Research on the Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning). Specific technology skills are not delineated however.
Student Outcomes
Indications that student outcomes are improved by use of technology:
In their October 2000 article The Impact of Technology on Student Achievement, Sherry and Jessey differentiate between process outcomes, which are "more closely tied to the inquiry learning dimension" and product outcomes, which are "more closely tied to the application of skills".
"When technology is used as a tool in the classroom, students are learning how to learn; they are learning new skills that will help them both in school and in the workplace; they are learning how to dialogue with professionals and use feedback; and they are motivated to stay in school."
This approach was found to serve traditionally underserved populations Further, a statistical analysis by researchers at Westat indicated that "in cases where teachers’ use of technology to facilitate or enhance classroom instruction was high, standardized test scores also were high". (Branigan, October 5, 2000, p. 2)
Which of these skills have a direct impact on student outcomes?
Thoughts/Questions
Direct Impact
- Proving a direct impact between specific staff technology skills and student outcomes is difficult.
- John Cradford and Elizabeth Bridgforth state that "The effectiveness of technology tends to vary as a function of the curriculum content and instructional strategy delivered by the technology." (Recent Research on the Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning)
- A study by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) found that teacher technology preparation "greatly facilitates" a number of teaching methods and strategies (Recent Research on the Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning). Specific technology skills are not delineated however.
Student Outcomes